Biden: Nasrallah’s killing brings justice; time for ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon

US President Joe Biden says Israel’s assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah brings a “measure of justice” for his many victims, while calling for diplomatic agreements to end the fighting in Lebanon and Gaza.

“Hassan Nasrallah and the terrorist group he led, Hezbollah, were responsible for killing hundreds of Americans over a four-decade reign of terror. His death from an Israeli airstrike is a measure of justice for his many victims, including thousands of Americans, Israelis, and Lebanese civilians,” Biden says in a statement.

He notes that the Friday strike was in response to Nasrallah’s decision to open up a “northern front” against Israel after Hamas’s October 7 onslaught.

“The United States fully supports Israel’s right to defend itself against Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and any other Iranian-supported terrorist groups,” Biden stresses, adding that he directed Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin yesterday to bolster the US military’s force posture in the Mideast in order to deter Iran from further escalation.

“Ultimately, our aim is to de-escalate the ongoing conflicts in both Gaza and Lebanon through diplomatic means,” the US president asserts, referencing the ceasefire and hostage release deal for Gaza and an agreement that would allow civilians in south Lebanon and northern Israel to return to their homes.

Notably, he doesn’t refer to the 21-day ceasefire initiative for Lebanon that he announced on Wednesday, which has all but fallen apart.

“It is time for these deals to close, for the threats to Israel to be removed, and for the broader Middle East region to gain greater stability,” Biden concludes in his statement.